Overview
- Pat McAfee used SmackDown to unveil a 25% ticket discount for WrestleMania’s Saturday show, then left with Randy Orton after taking Cody Rhodes’ title belt as Orton attacked rapper Jelly Roll.
- The latest SmackDown drew fierce criticism, with Cagematch users ranking the past two episodes as the show’s worst ever and veteran reporter Wade Keller calling the angle embarrassing and amateurish.
- Wrestling Observer reports the feud is planned to continue after WrestleMania with a Backlash tag match of Rhodes and Jelly Roll vs. McAfee and Orton.
- BILD and SPORT1 report the McAfee spotlight was driven by ownership, tying the move to TKO chief Ari Emanuel and cross-promotion with ESPN, where McAfee hosts a high-profile show.
- BILD reports WrestleMania ticket sales are about 18% below last year, which adds pressure for attention-grabbing moments ahead of the Las Vegas event.